Coin gate

ABSTRACT

A movable gate member (34) of a coin gate (24) is provided with lugs (70) which extend downwardly from the gate member (34), at least partly in the direction of travel of a coin through the gate. The lugs (70) trap a tethered or captive coin by hooking the coin if the coin is pulled back towards the gate by its tether. The lugs (70) may have a ramp shape for urging the coin progressively away from the open edge of the gate member, and slots (76) may be formed in the gate member for receiving the tether.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a coin gate suitable for use in a coinmechanism for, for example, a coin-operated vending machine or gamesmachine. The term "coin" is employed to mean any coin (whether valid orcounterfeit), token, slug, washer, or other metallic object or item, andespecially any metallic object or item which could be utilised by anindividual in an attempt to operate a coin-operated device or system. A"valid coin" is considered to be an authentic coin, token, or the like,and especially an authentic coin of a monetary system or systems inwhich or with which a coin-operated device or system is intended tooperate and of a denomination which such coin-operated device or systemis intended selectively to receive and to treat as an item of value.

A known problem for designers has been to provide satisfactoryfraud-prevention against the use of so-called captive coins or tetheredcoins. Such coins have attached to them a fine thread or wire by meansof which the coin can be manipulated in the coin mechanism to enable thecoin to be extracted once the coin has been accepted and a creditissued. It can sometimes also be possible to trigger repeated operationof the coin mechanism by manipulating the tether, after which the coincan then be pulled out by its tether.

Coin gates are used to control to which of a plurality of paths a coinwill be routed, or sometimes to selectively block passage of a cointhrough the gate. A particular example of an important coin gate so faras tethered coins are concerned is the coin acceptance gate. The gatedetermines whether the coin is accepted into a store and a creditissued, or whether the coin is directed to a reject coin chute.

When a coin is deemed acceptable, the gate is opened to allow the cointo pass to the store, and the gate is then closed. However, it cansometimes be possible to pull a tethered coin back through the gate bypulling on the thread sufficiently firmly to force the gate open. Thiscan be a particular problem if the thread interferes with the normaloperation of the gate to prevent it from closing fully in the firstplace. Unless such withdrawal of the coin is detected and preferablyprevented, the mechanism will not be secure against the use of tetheredcoins, and such a tethered coin may be used again to trigger more coincredits.

Designs are known in the art for providing one-way-only gates and fordetecting the presence of a thread or wire attached to a coin. Designsare also known for sensing the direction of travel of a coin so thatfraudulent manipulation can be detected. However, such designs can becomplicated and may not be suitable for inclusion in an existingmechanism without requiring substantial modification or redesign of themechanism.

U.S. Pat. No. 4 327 824 discloses a coin testing apparatus in which apivoting L-shaped member is positioned such that a coin entering apassageway pivots the member out of position before the coin travelsalong the passageway and operates an electrical switch. If an attempt ismade to withdraw the coin by means of a tether, the member will havepivoted back into the passageway and prevents the coin from beingwithdrawn to a position at which the switch is de-actuated. The surfaceof the member which is engaged by the coin as it is withdrawn isprovided with serrations, which aid in wedging the coin and preventingits withdrawal.

CH-A-680 399 discloses a coin gate in the form of a shutter which can bemoved between a first position, in which a coin can travel through theshutter, and a second position in which a blocking portion of theshutter prevents the coin from moving past. The blocking portion isprovided with openings which extend from the side of the blockingportion past which coins travel in the open position of the gate suchthat, when the gate is closed after a coin on a tether has moved past,the tether will be located within an opening. Upwardly projecting barbsadjacent the openings ensure that the tether is trapped. In this way,any attempt to withdraw the coin will be prevented by the coin strikingagainst the shutter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the present invention are set out in the accompanying claims.

With arrangements according to the invention, even if the tetherprevents the gate from closing fully, or if the gate tends to be pulledopen by the tension in the tether, the coin can be held securely by, orbehind, a hooking portion of the gate and thus be prevented from beingable to be forced past the gate.

Preferably the coin gate comprises a movable blocking member having aside past which coins are allowed when the gate is in an open position,and the hooking portion is arranged so that, if a coin is pulled backtowards the gate by its tether, the coin is guided progressively awayfrom said side of the blocking member as the coin approaches the gateand towards a position in which the coin is trapped under the blockingmember.

With such an arrangement, a tethered coin can be prevented from reachingthe side of the blocking member, and thus prevented from being able tobe forced past the gate by the tether.

Preferably, a plurality of hooking portions are provided, at spacedapart positions on the gate member.

The hooking portion preferably comprises a ramp-shaped lug, directeddownwardly from the gate member. In the preferred embodiment, a numberof spaced apart lugs are provided to engage a said tethered coin, and toallow the tether to be received therebetween to draw the coin againstthe surfaces of the lugs.

One or more openings, for example slots, may be formed in the blockingmember, to allow the tether of a tethered coin to be received in anopening. For example, such openings may be formed between adjacent lugsif a plurality of lugs is used. Such an arrangement can allow the tetherto adopt a position to draw the tethered coin into more positiveengagement with the lugs or other means. For example, in the case oframp-shaped lugs, the slots or openings may allow the coin to be drawnall of the way along the ramp surface, to direct the coin fully awayFrom the edge of the blocking member.

In the preferred embodiment, the gate is pivoted between its open andclosed positions. However, the invention may advantageously be appliedto other forms of pivotable or slidable or retractable coin gates.

The aforementioned lugs or other means may be formed integrally with theportion of the gate from which it, or they, extends or extend,respectively. In the preferred embodiment, the gate is integrally formedand is made of moulded plastics material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the invention is now described by way of example withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a coin mechanism including a coinacceptance gate;

FIG. 2 is a more detailed view of the gate shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view from above of the gate member in isolation;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view from below of the gate member in isolation;

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of the coin acceptance gate in itsopened position;

FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view of the coin acceptance gate in itsclosed position;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are schematic sectional views similar to FIG. 6 butshowing the effect of a tethered coin being drawn against the gate.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, a coin validator mechanism 10 includes a coin entryslot 12, and first and second downwardly inclined runways 14 and 16respectively, along which an inserted coin rolls, as shown by the brokenline 18. Conventional coin recognition sensors 20 are arranged to sensethe coin as it travels along the runways 14 and 16. A short chute 22leads downwardly from the end of the second runway 16 to an electricallyoperated coin acceptance gate 24 which determines whether the coin isallowed to pass to an accept chute 26 or whether the coin is diverted toa reject chute 28. The acceptance gate 24 is controlled by controlcircuitry (not shown) which monitors the outputs from the sensors 20 todetermine whether or not an inserted coin is acceptable. The acceptchute 26 leads to a coin store (not shown), and a post-gate sensor 32 isarranged in the accept chute 26 to sense coins once they have passedthrough the acceptance gate 24.

Referring to FIGS. 2-6, the coin acceptance gate in this embodimentconsists of a movable gate member 34 which is integrally formed ofmoulded plastics. Viewed from the side, the gate member 34 is generallyL-shaped and consists of a lower gate portion 36 which is supported froma shaft 38 by struts 40a-e. The lower portion 36 includes four walls42,44,46 and 48 which define a narrow, generally rectangular opening 50.A shelf 52 projects from one of the longer walls 42, and forms ablocking member as explained below. The wall 42 thus constitutes oneside of the shelf 52, and at the opposite side the shelf 52 is turnedupwardly to form a lip 54. The outermost struts 40a and 40e, and thecentre strut 40c are generally parallel, but the struts 40b and 40d oneither side of the centre are inclined inwardly towards the shaft 38 andjoin the centre strut 40c at the shaft 38. The shaft 38 is longer thanthe lower portion 36 and projects thereabove at one end 38a. An actuatorlug 56 is formed on the projecting portion of the shaft 38 for couplingto an actuator (shown schematically at 57 in FIG. 5).

As best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the gate member 34 is supported by itsshaft 38 behind a wall 60 of the coin mechanism, such that the lowerportion 36 projects through an opening 62 in the wall 60. The shaft 38is rotatably mounted relative to the coin mechanism, such that the gatemember 34 can swing relative to the wall 60 between an open position (asshown in FIG. 5), and a closed position (as shown in FIG. 6). Asdepicted in FIG. 2, and as can be seen from the underside angle of thegate member 34 in FIGS. 5 and 6, the gate member 34 is mounted relativeto the wall 60 such that one end 52a of the shelf 52 adjacent to thereject chute 28 is lower than the other end 52b of the shelf. In thepresent embodiment, this inclination is achieved by mounting the shaft38 at an angle relative to the horizontal of the coin mechanism, suchthat the gate member 34 is inclined relative to the horizontal. Thereason for this inclination is explained hereinafter.

Referring to FIG. 5, in the open position of the gate member 34, theopening 50 is aligned substantially in register with the chute 22. Thusa coin dropping downwardly from the second runway is allowed to passthrough the opening 50 and, after exiting the gate, to descend theaccept chute 26 to the coin store. The opening 50 is dimensioned toallow therethrough the largest coin with which the gate is intended tobe used.

Referring to FIG. 6, in the closed position of the gate member 34, theshelf 52 is aligned substantially in register with the chute 22 to blockthe passage of coins, and hence prevent the coins from entering theaccept chute 26. The wall 42, the shelf 52 and the lip 54 togetherdefine a runway channel for the coin, guided also by the wall 60 of thecoin mechanism, and a front wall 64. Owing to the downward inclinationof the shelf 52 towards the reject chute 28, a coin landing on the shelf52 will roll downwardly to be directed to the reject chute 28.

As mentioned above, the gate member 34 is driven by an actuator 57 whichrotates the shaft 38 by means of the actuator lug 56. The actuator ispreferably controlled electrically and may, for example, be anelectromagnetic actuator. The actuator is driven in response to theoutput generated by the sensors 20 to determine whether or not the gateshould be opened to accept the coin. If the gate is opened, the coinoperates the post gate sensor 32 to deactivate the actuator to allow thegate to close. Additionally, a failsafe time-out count is performed todeactivate the actuator after a predetermined time even if no output isreceived from the post-gate sensor 32.

In this embodiment, the gate member 34 is biased towards its closedposition (as a failsafe), and the actuator is used to open the gatemember 34, the gate member 34 then returning to the closed positionunder the bias after operation of the actuator. The return bias may, forexample, be provided by a return spring. Alternatively, the gate member34 may be mounted such that it tends to return to the closed positionunder its own weight. To prevent the gate member 34 from moving beyond amaximally closed position, a small stop projection 66 is formed on theshaft 38 and engages an abutment surface 68 on the wall 60 when the gatemember 34 is at the fully closed position.

Formed on the underside of the shelf 52 of the gate member 34 adjacentto the wall 42 are a number of spaced apart triangular lugs 70 withintervening spaces or openings 71; three lugs in this embodiment. Thelugs 70 extend from the gate member at least partly in the direction oftravel of a coin through the gate; the lugs extend generally downwardlyin this embodiment. Each lug 70 is arranged to provide a ramp surface 72tapering towards the lip 54. Each lug 70 is substantially flush with theinner face 74 or edge of the wall 42. The purpose of the lugs 70, asexplained in more detail below, is to hook a tethered coin under thegate member 34 and retain the coin therebehind, if a person pulls on thetether to try to draw the coin back through the gate once the gatemember 34 has moved towards its closed position. To supplement theopenings 71, a group of thread capturing slots 76 are formed in aportion of the wall 42 towards one end. Each slot 76 extends through thewall 42 and partway into the shelf 52. Each slot 76 is wider at its openmouth than at its closed end, and the portions of the wall 42 betweenadjacent slots 76 are generally rounded such that, in use, a thread orwire extending through the opening 50 will tend to enter one of theslots 76 when the gate member 34 is moved to its closed position.

Referring to FIG. 5, it will be seen that when the gate member 34 is inits open position, the lugs 70 are positioned such that they do nothinder the passage of a coin through the opening 50. If, for example, aperson enters a valid but tethered coin 78 into the coin mechanism, thegate member 34 will be controlled to move to its open position to acceptthe coin in the normal way. Thereafter, on closing of the gate member 34(see FIG. 6), the movement of the gate member 34 together with thetension in the thread 80, is likely to cause the thread 80 to enter oneof the slots 76. It will be appreciated that in FIG. 6, for clarity, thesection line is taken through one particular slot 76 in which the thread80 is received.

If the person now attempts to withdraw the coin by forcing the coin 78upwardly through the gate by pulling on the thread 80, the edge of thecoin 78 will abut the ramp surface 72 of at least one of the lugs 70.Further pulling on the thread 80 will cause the coin to be guided by therespective lugs 70 away from the opening (see FIG. 7), such that thecoin 78 is trapped by the lugs 70 adjacent to the underside of theextension 52 of the gate member 34. Continued pulling on the thread 80may cause the gate member 34 to open partially (see FIG. 8), but thismerely causes the coin to be trapped more firmly, between the lugs 70 ofthe gate member and a wall 82 formed on the coin mechanism below thegate member 34.

The slots 76 allow the thread 80 to adopt a position in which thepulling force of the thread 80 is directed behind the lugs 70 to drawthe coin 78 upwardly along the ramp surface 72 of one or more of thelugs 70. In FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 the position of the thread 80 moves to theleft as the coin 78 is drawn nearer the underside of the shelf 52. Thelength of each slot 76 into the shelf 52 is such that the closed end ofthe slot 76 is approximately in line with the ends of the ramp surfaces72. This means that when the coin 78 bears against the underside of theshelf 52, the pulling force provided by the thread is directedsubstantially upwardly, thereby ensuring that the coin 78 is retainedsecurely behind the lugs 70. In fact, the coin 78 is trapped more firmlythe harder the person pulls on the thread 80.

As depicted by the broken line 84 in FIG. 6, if the thread 80 does notenter one of the slots 76, the coin 78 is still able to bear against atleast one of the lugs 72 as the thread 80 is pulled upwardly, such thatthe coin 78 will be hooked, or trapped, in a similar manner to thatdescribed above. However, the thread 80 will extend to the right as seenin FIG. 6, through the space 71 between the lugs and towards the opening50, instead of generally vertically upwardly as in the case of thethread 80 entering a slot. Owing to the direction of the pulling force,the coin 78 will be retained by the lugs 70, but the coin 78 might onlybe drawn part of the way up the ramp surfaces 72 of the lugs 70 insteadof fully against the underside of the extension 52.

If the thread 80 shears or is released by the person, the coin 78becomes free to drop down the accept chute 26 as originally intended.The gate member 34 will then return under its bias to the closedposition.

In the present embodiment, the slots 76 are arranged only in a region ofthe wall 42 towards one end. Owing to the geometry of the first andsecond runways 14 and 16, and of the chutes 22 and 26, the fall-linewhich the thread 80 will adopt when supporting the weight of the coin 78can be roughly predicted. In this embodiment, the fall line of thethread will lie towards the end of the opening 50 adjacent to the rejectchute 28, and this is the region in which the slots 76 are arranged.

In other embodiments, slots may be provided in the wall 42 across thewhole width of the opening 50 if this is desired. The configurations ofthe slots may be altered as desired. The slots could also be replaced byother openings or clearances in the wall 42, designed to allow thethread 80 of a tethered coin 78 to be directed away from the opening 50.

Alternatively, the slots 76, or similar opening or clearances, may beomitted from the gate member 34. As explained hereinbefore, the lugs 70are able to hook a tethered coin 78 even without the slots 76, althoughthe slots 76 offer advantages in combination with the lugs 70.

In the preferred embodiment described above, a number of discrete lugs70 are provided. However, in other embodiments, the lugs may be replacedby other means or projections, directed at least partly in the directionof travel of a coin through the gate, for hooking or retaining atethered coin 78 if it is drawn back towards the opening 50. Forexample, the wall 42 may be deepened to project below the level of theshelf 52; slots may be provided in the wall as appropriate. The wall mayhave a ramp profile extending away from the opening 50, similar to theramp surfaces 72 of the lugs 70 described above.

Although the ramp surfaces 72 described above offer an advantage inguiding a tethered coin 78 progressively further away from the opening50 as the coin 78 approaches the gate member 34, other lugs orprojections may be provided without such a ramp surface or surfaces. Forexample, the lugs may each comprise a downwardly extending or downwardlyangled tooth.

The preferred embodiment described above provides a simple, yetreliable, coin gate which is effective in preventing extraction of atethered coin back through the gate once the coin has been accepted. Itwill be appreciated that, to achieve this, the gate does not rely onadditional electronic sensors and additional control circuitry, nor doesit require additional mechanical components to control movement of thegate. Accordingly, such a gate may be implemented in a coin mechanismwithout necessitating complicated modification or redesign of anexisting mechanism.

It will be appreciated that the above description is merely illustrativeof an exemplary embodiment, and that modifications may be made withinthe scope or principles of the invention.

We claim:
 1. A coin gate comprising a blocking member (52) movablebetween an open position for allowing a coin to move past a side (42) ofthe gate, and a closed position for blocking the path of the coin, andtrapping means (70,71,76) on the gate member adapted to trap a tetheredcoin (78) against the blocking member if the coin is pulled back fromthe gate exit towards the blocking member by its tether, said trappingmeans comprising an opening (71;76) extending away from said side (42)of the member for receiving the tether, wherein the trapping meansfurther comprises a coin hooking portion (70) located on said blockingmember (52) and extending therefrom at least partly in the direction oftravel of a coin through the gate, the opening (71,76) and the hookingportion (70) being so arranged that as the tethered coin is pulled backwith the tether located in the opening, the hooking portion (70) islocated between the coin (78) and said side (42) of the blocking member.2. A coin gate according to claim 1, wherein the hooking portion (70) isadapted to guide a coin (78) progressively away from the side (42) ofthe blocking member (52) as the coin approaches the blocking member. 3.A coin gate as claimed in claim 1, wherein said opening (71) is locatedlaterally adjacent said hooking portion (70).
 4. A coin gate as claimedin claim 3, including a further opening (76) extending through theblocking member (52) such that the tether of a trapped coin (78) canextend through both said openings (71,76).
 5. A coin gate according toclaim 4, wherein said hooking portion (70) comprises a front surfaceproximate the side (42) of the blocking member (52) and an opposite,rear surface (72), and the further opening extends rearwards from saidside (42) to a position behind said front surface of said portion.
 6. Acoin gate according to claim 4, wherein the further opening (76)comprises a slot.
 7. A coin gate according to claim 1, wherein aplurality of such trapping means are distributed along the blockingmember (52).
 8. A coin gate according to claim 1, wherein the hookingportion (70) is capable of engaging a said tethered coin (78) when theblocking member (52) is at an intermediate position between the open andclosed positions.
 9. A coin gate according to claim 1, wherein thehooking portion (70) is directed generally downwardly from the blockingmember (52).
 10. A coin gate according to claim 1, wherein the hookingportion (70) is positioned adjacent to said side (42) of the blockingmember (52).
 11. A coin gate according to claim 1, the gate beingoperable for selectively permitting and preventing coins from passingtherethrough to the gate exit.
 12. A coin gate according to claim 1,further comprising actuator means (57) for controlling the position ofthe blocking member (52).
 13. A coin gate according to claim 12, whereinthe actuator means (57) is controlled electrically.
 14. A coin gateaccording to claim 1, wherein the blocking member (52) is resilientlybiased to a predetermined operating position.
 15. Coin-handlingapparatus comprising a coin gate, the coin gate comprising a blockingmember movable between an open position for allowing a coin to move pasta side of the gate, and a closed position for blocking the path of thecoin, and trapping means on the gate member adapted to trap a tetheredcoin against the blocking member if the coin is pulled back from thegate exit towards the blocking member by its tether, said trapping meanscomprising an opening extending away from said side of the member forreceiving the tether, wherein the trapping means further comprises acoin hooking portion located on said blocking member and extendingtherefrom at least partly in the direction of travel of a coin throughthe gate, the opening and the hooking portion being so arranged that asthe tethered coin is pulled back with the tether located in the opening,the hooking portion is located between the coin and said side of theblocking member.
 16. Coin handling apparatus as claimed in claim 15,wherein the coin gate is an acceptance gate for routing a coin to anaccept path (26) or to a non-accept path (28).